Portola HIlls Here We Come!

Emma started 2nd grade last Thursday (Sept. 6) and Tess started kindergarten. Tess has the same teacher, Mrs. Lindenhofen, who Emma had for kindergarten, so we are very excited, because we love her. She even has two friends from preschool in her class, although she's taking a "glass half-empty" approach to this and is very sad her other friends from preschool are not in her class. Other than that, she seems to like school and my dawdler is suddenly very concerned about being on time. At least to school. This has been a tough transition for her though and after a week of daily screaming tantrums I finally remembered Emma doing the same thing when she started kindergarten. Which means I've got a tough few months ahead.

Emma, on the other hand, is doing great and loves her teacher, Mrs. Martin. It seems after 2 years she's finally gotten the hang of school. We've even gone a few days without her asking why she can't be homeschooled.

So My Baby Started School Today

Jane, who's not even 3 until next month, started preschool today. So with her in preschool 2 days a week and playgroup one day a week and Tess in kindergarten, I have a whopping 5 1/2 kid-free hours a week! (Were it not for the crazy modified school day schedule on Thursdays, I'd have another hour and a half). But suddenly I'm wondering if I'm crazy to have sent her to school so soon. What am I going to do to fill those 5 1/2 hours?! Shower? Grocery shop? Those things won't take nearly as long without any cats to herd while I'm doing them. My baby days are over and I don't quite know what to do with myself.

Jane, however, had no trouble finding plenty to do at preschool. She was so busy, in fact, she wasn't ready to leave when I came to pick her up. Not only was she the last to leave, but I had to drag her out kicking and screaming. I guess playing with toys, friends, and play-do (or claydough as she calls it) is a lot more fun than going on errands with Mom. Who knew?

Here she is with a mouth full of pretzels, but still looking pretty darn cute, just before leaving for school. The other picture is her with her teacher, Miss Karen, and her friend from playgroup, Bryson Ripley. Somewhere there is a 3 year old picture of Bryson's mom, Sheridan, and I at our combined baby shower just before these two preschoolers were born.

Maybe I'm Not So Original

I like to think I'm someone who knows what's cool and is tuned into the lastest trends, but alas, I'm usually a few years behind. And so here I am, starting my own blog years after everyone else has done it and blogging is on it's way to becoming passe. So of course now I have to be more creative and more original than all you other bloggers out there who have been doing this for years. Because how else am I going to even be noticed now that the novelty of blogging has worn off? I'm feeling a little bit of pressure here! However, I decided that if I came up with a really memorable title for my blog, maybe I could at least get people to look even if what I write isn't that interesting.
As I pondered the all important question of what to name my blog, I thought about how I describe a day out and about with my three daughters Emma, Tess, and Jane. The phrase I most often use is, "it's like herding cats." And that's when the lightbulb went on and I shouted, "by jove, I've got it!" The title of my blog is the six word novel of my life: I Spend My Days Herding Cats.
But would you believe, the URL herdingcats was already taken? So much for originality. I am really curious about that blog though.